Colombia Earthquake: Rescue Efforts Shift as Survivor Hopes Fade

Rescue efforts in Colombia are entering a somber phase as hopes fade for finding more survivors of the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck early this week. In Cali, the country's third-largest city, search and rescue operations have largely shifted to debris removal, marking a grim transition after the critical first 72 hours post-disaster.

Mayor Alejandro Eder confirmed that nine search-and-rescue efforts remain active, urging silence in these areas to allow teams to listen for any signs of life. The earthquake, which hit Monday morning, toppled buildings and damaged infrastructure across western Colombia, a region known for its coffee farms. Official figures report at least 273 deaths and over 3,800 injuries, with 377 people still unaccounted for.

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My mother was rescued six hours after the earthquake. They pulled her out with vital signs, but she died on the way to the hospital.

Families are grappling with uncertainty and loss. Enrique Marin recounted a harrowing journey from Bogota after learning his mother was trapped. Though rescued alive, she tragically died en route to the hospital. Marin managed to recover only a bicycle from the rubble of his childhood home, a poignant reminder of the devastation.

Elsewhere, volunteers at the Torres del Limonar residential complex in Cali worked tirelessly in bucket brigades, urged by coordinators to be mindful of limited time and safety protocols. Meanwhile, in Roldanillo, the disappeared persons unit is investigating human remains exposed by the quake. The disaster also highlights challenges for the new Colombian government, with reports of smaller towns and remote communities struggling to receive aid, forcing locals to dig through rubble with their bare hands.

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My mother was found in her pajamas with the house keys still in her hand.